By
eHow Arts & Entertainment Editor
Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Things You’ll Need:
Rounded Fingernails
Step1
Trim your fingernails with a nail clipper until they are all relatively the same size.
Step2
File your fingernails to make them round, following the natural curve of your fingers.
Step3
Look at your hand with the palm facing toward you. Make sure your fingernails are about a 1/16 inch above your finger tips.
Angled Fingernails
Step1
Trim your fingernails until they are all relatively the same size; about 1/16 inch above your finger tips.
Step2
File your fingernail so that it is at a slight angle with the shorter part of the fingernail that comes in contact with the guitar string.
Step3
Experiment between the 2 shapes, rounded and angled, to see which one works best for you. The angled shape is considered the more "professional" shape for serious guitar players. This shape allows the flesh to come in contact with the strings, which lends to a nice warm tone, while getting a fine grip on the strings.